Vehicle trailing device.



D. G. BRYAN.

VEHICLE TRAILING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

1,087,210, `Patent-,ed Feb.17,1914.

Z Z' Z a /Ll 52. EQU/25mm DON C. BRYAN, OF SAN-DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE TRAILING- DEVICE.

Lot-:maiaI Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.. l '7, 19rd.

Application let May 24, 1912. Serial No. 699,572.

and State of California, have invented cer-.

tain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Trailing Devices, ot'rivhichhe `following is a specification.

My invention rela-tes to adevice to be attached to the rear of one vehicle and to the front of another for trailing purposes, and is more particularlv adapted for automobiles,

provided with steering rods. v

rilhe objects ot' my invention are, iirst, to

provide a. device ot this class which may be readily attached to the rear of one vehicle and to the front of the other; second, to provide such a device that connects with the steering rod of the trailed machine for steering the same; third, to provide such a device that is simple, economical and easily constructed; fourth, to provide such a device that will fold up into a compact form when not. in use; and fifth, to provide such a device that is adjustable to the various constructions of vehicles.

lilith these and other objects in view as will appear, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangementof parts, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, refer* ence being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters 'of reference thereon which form a part of this specication, in Which- Figure l is a top or plan view of my device. complete shown connected to the rear axle of the trailing vehicle and to the front axle of the trailed vehicle, the former vehicle portion being shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of my delvice showing the axle and steering rod ot' the trailed vehicle in sectlan, and Fig. 3 is a detail side elevational View or' my yoke showing its connection to the differential casing. i

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The yoke l, connecting piece 2, guide piece 8, steering rod clamp 4, and axle clamp 5, constitute the principal parts of my device. l The yoke l is shaped as shown best in Figs. l and 3. The normally horizontal members of the yoke are each provided With holes spaced apart and adapted for bolts la.

These bolts support a cap le Which is of'a suitable shape and size to fit over the rear axle of a vehicle and with said normally horizontal members form a clamp on said axle and said bolts areprovided on their ends with nuts 1b. These horizontal members join some Ydistance back of the axle Where there is provided an upwardly extended ball 10. This yoke is provided with a brace member 1d at the junction ofthe tWo horizontal members, which extends to and is attached to the differential casing by means of the dilferential casing bolts. rIhisbrace member ld is my preferred construction, but the yoke may beanade Without it. Around the ball lc are the socket pieces 2a and 2l adapted to tit around said ballY and form a universal joint. These pieces 2a and 2l are held together in front of said joint and are adapted to be tightened, to take up the Wear in said joint. rIhese pieces are provided with the extending members 2C and 2d, each provided with holes adapted for their connection to the connect-ing piece 2, and on the other end of the connecting piece 2 is provided a piece 2e, which is provided with ahole adapted for a pivot bolt. This is the preferable construction of the piece 2, but it may be made of one ieee includingvpieces 2a, 2b and 2e, thus mal? parts of one piece. Pivotally mounted on the piece 2a is the guide, piece 3 by means of a pivot holt 3a. This guide piece isl pivotally mounted on a vertical pinEl on the clamp 5. It is provided With a slot 3b adapted tor a roller 3C, mounted on a pin 3d on the clamp 4 which is rigidly clamped to ingl them' all integral the steering rod of the trailed vehicle. 0n

the rear end of the guide piece l3 is provided a fork 3e, adapted for the roller 3C on the clampy 4, when the trailed vehicle steering rod is located back of the front axle instead o in front of it as shown in Fig. l.

rlhe clamp 5 is a plate provided With holes in each end adapted for the bolts 5l. This plate is provided with a plurality of holes spaced apart atvarious distances, to facilitate its attachment to various Width axles, and on the side of the axle opposite to this plate is provided the cross bars 5 through which the bolts 5b extend, thus forming a clamp on the axle of the trailed vehicle.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction"y and arrangement of parts, I do not wish to be limited to this par-l ticular construction and arrangement, but

ive

' of' vehicles; and that the device may be folded into a very compact form when not in IISG.

VHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A device of the class described comprising a yoke consisting of two branch lmembers f adapted to be clamped to the rear axle, one

on cach side of the dierential, a connecting piece -connected to one end of said yoke by means'ofa ball and socket joint, a guide piece horizontally pivoted to the opposite end thereof, a clamp piece mounted on the front axle of another vehicle provided with an up.- wardly extending vertical pivot upon which said guide piece 1s pivotally mounted, and a clamp piece attached to-a vehicle steering rod provided with an upwardly extending pivot engaging in a longitudinal slot in said guide piece whereby said steering rod is shifted with the pivotal movement of said guide piece.

2. 'A device of the class described comprising a yoke provided with three branch members, two of which are clamped on the rear axle of a vehicle, one'on each side of the differential and the other to the differential case, an upwardly extending ball adaptedor a ball joint mounted on the rear end thereof, a connecting piece connected to said yoke by means of a socket over said ball, a guide piece horizontally pivoted to the other k-end of said connecting piece, a clamp attached to another vehicle axle provided with an upwardly extending vertical pivot upon which said guide piece is pivotally mounted, anda clamp rigidly attached to a vehicle steering rod provided with an upwardly extending vertical aXis, a roller mounted on said vertical axis inserted in a slot in said guide piece whereby said steering rod is shifted with the pivotal movement of said guide piece.

3. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a yoke consisting of one central branch and two side branches rigidly secured to the rear axle of the vehicle, one side branch on each side of the diderential and the central branch to the dii'erential casing, a connecting piece connected to said yoke by means of a ball and socket joint, a guide piece horizontally pivoted to the opposite end of said connecting piece pivoted above the rontraxle of another vehicle on a clamp mounted on said axle provided with a slot therein, a clamp piece mounted on the steering rod of said other vehicle provided with a roller engaging with the slot in said guide piece rwhereby said steering rod is shifted with the pivotal movement of said guide piece on said aXle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DUN C, BRYAN.

Witnesses: l

HARRY E. Srnrrn,

ELMER E. RODABAUGH. 

